STEM, also known as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields, are some of the most technically demanding courses out there. A lot of effort has gone into encouraging children and women to get into STEM, as our technology-driven world needs more experts, but here we’re going to look at why exactly it’s a smart career move for just about anyone.
It pays really, really well
Even at a conservative estimate, the average STEM graduate earns 20% more than graduates from other fields in college. Money isn’t the only reason to consider a career but in today’s job market, with its stagnating wages, it’s not hard to see why the fields are so attractive to many. It also helps to know that the sheer investment of effort and time it takes pays off in the end, according to Business Insider.
Achieve real career flexibility
One of the issues that some graduates find with their choice of course is that it pens them into certain fields and careers. That’s not the case with STEM education. Most STEM courses teach a wide range of highly transferable skills. Independent research, math, project management and communication are all crucial in a STEM career and can all help you switch career tracks if and when you want.
The job security is real
As the New York Times shows, there are more graduates to job openings in every STEM field except computer science/data analysis. However, the data also shows that when you find a career in STEM, whether it’s with a private company, a research team, or something else entirely, those careers tend to last as long as you want. In a world of a growing gig economy and the forced reliance on part-time roles for more workers, that’s worth taking seriously.
Getting on the front lines of progress
Besides the many practical advantages, we can’t ignore the more romantic ideals of why people get into STEM. Working with new technologies and on new research like those shown at Hera BioLabs and making discoveries that can have tremendous impacts on the world is deeply attractive to many. From discovering new treatments for cancer to developing technologies that open up new business fields, those in STEM careers tend to be at the front of every major revolution in modern living standards.
It’s not all in a lab
That said, you aren’t going to be stuck behind a computer or in a lab the whole time if you don’t want to be. Taking science alone as an example, a career in marine biology could see you sailing the seas with a team for months on end. Data science could see you working in an office with a team of high-powered business types. There are opportunities of all kinds in the public and private sector that offer new exciting environments when you feel like a change.
Of course, not everyone is suited to life in the STEM fields. It demands a particular set of skills, whereas you might have skills that don’t quite fit. If you have the curiosity and the love of learning, however, it might be worth thinking about starting your journey down the path of STEM.
